Position:Home>Books & Authors> Has anyone read " Oedipus Rex" and know the story really well...? ?

Hmm!. I was in AP Lit and Comp last year, and we spent a good bit of time talking about this story!. Let's see what I can remember!.

1!. Oedipus is robbed of his ability to act!. Not in the physical sense, but in the grand scheme of things!. He TRIES to act, and prevent his fate, but it obviously doesn't work, making his actions count for nothing, which is sort of just another way of saying he is unable to act!.

2!. I would say that Oedipus unknowingly decides his fate!. Although the motivation behind what he did was to avoid marrying his mother and killing his father, what he did brought him directly to that fate!. if he had not done what he had chosen to do, he would have followed a different fate!.

3!. I think the answer to this one would be something along the lines of "no matter how hard you try, you can't avoid fate!." This is more the meaning of his actions rather than the course!. I understand this story as showing that even if you learn of a prophecy foretelling your life, and you try to avoid it, fate is fate, and there is no way around it!. People do not have power over their lives!. The pre-written plan for you is what's going to happen, and no matter what you do, you can't change it!. Your thoughts may even be part of your fate!. If it is destined that something will happen to you, then perhaps what you consider "free will" is also fate, and you do not choose your thoughts, even if it seems like you do!.

4!. the purpose of the Oracle is more or less to foreshadow, I think!. The Oracle would probably hinder Oedipus, although it might not make a difference!. I say it hinders Oedipus because after hearing the prophecy, Oedipus becomes obsessed with avoiding his fate!. In some ways it consumes him!. It is because of this fear that he is driven to leave his hometown and ultimately do what the Oracle said!. The oracle is significant because it provides Oedipus with knowledge and information, and ultimately proves that even if you are aware of your future, you can not change it no matter how hard you try!.

5!. This question could go either way, and I may not be of much help!. What I will say is that if he had not been to the Oracle, then perhaps he may not have gone on his quest to escape and would have never met his parents!. The alternative is that if he had not seen the Oracle, fate could have had its way without complications, and would have happened all the same!. You could also say that it was his fate to see the Oracle and consequently live the live he led afterward, and so his whole life was already set out before him!.Perhaps visiting the Oracle to learn the prophecy was part of his fate, and so his choice to see the Oracle was merely an illusion of choice, much like his other "choices" of killing the random guy at the crossroads and marrying the harmless queen!.

6!. Oh, I remember talking about this exact question, but I don't quite remember what was said!. I think it went something along the lines of because he is so strong-willed and ambitious, he tried to get away from his fate, but because he was so well focused on avoiding his fate, his ambition drove him toward his fate that much faster!. I also think I remember someone saying something about his cleverness, and how because he thought he was smart and witty (saving the town from he plague and improving the standard and living and whatever) he convinced himself he had wiggled his way out of the prophecy and had avoided it due to his brilliant mind!. Because of his genius, he let down his guard and was not as cautious as he should have been!.

I hope this helps, but I want you to know that I was not very good at this stuff, and although I'm a little better at it now, most of this was taken from memory of what others said!. I hope that you do not take these as direct answers, and instead that you will take them into consideration, match it up with your own thoughts, and brainstorm other possibilities!. This is really just supposed to be food for thought!. If it makes sense to you, and you agree with it, and have other reasons to believe it, than it would be matching up with your own views, and therefore it would be kinda stupid to not say this!.

Again, I hope this gives you a deeper look into Oedipus Rex, and helps you find the answers you are looking for!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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